Shoe-sole.



G. S. SWAIM.

SHOE SOLE.

APPLICATION IILBD MAI 8, 1912.

1,044,941, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

CGLUMBIA PLANDORAPK co.. WASHINBTON. n. C.

CHARLES S. SWAIM, OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-SOLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Application filed May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,955.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. SWAIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taft, in the county of Kern and State o-f California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Soles, of which the following isla specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in shoesoles and has for its primary object to provide a pneumatic sole for house shoes or slippers, which will be very comfortable to the feet of the wearer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a sole for shoes consisting of superposed layers of canvas and paper and having a central air `receiving cushioning member, the paper sheets rendering the sole air tight so that the air will not escape through the canvas fabric.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sole which may form a part of the shoe or may be manufactured in the form of an inner sole for insertion into the ordinary shoe.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following descri tion and accom an in drawin in which-w Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a shoe sole embodying .the present invention, several of the layers of material being turned back to more clearly illustrate the structure; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, showing thereto va second canvas sheet 11.

size than the paper sheet and extends be- `which will be fully pointed out in the following description. 4 Upon the paper sheet 6 another layer of canvas 7 is arranged, and uponthis layer of canvas theair receiving cushion 8 is disposed. This cushion consists of a sheet of canvas 9 and a sheet of paper 10, the former having secured This latter canvas sheet is laited to form longitudinally extending ciannels 12. A sheet of canvas 13 is arranged upon the paper sheet 10, the several layers of canvas and the interposed sheet of paper being securely stitched together and to the layer of canvas 7. An upper canvas layer 14 is provided between which and the canvas layer 7 the Y cushioning member is arranged, the canvas layers 7 and 14 and the paper sheet 6 being of substantially the same dimensions. The perimetrical extending portion 15 of the largerbottom layer of canvas 5 is now provided with glue or other suitable adhesive upon its upper surface and is folded over upon the edge of the canvas layer 14. The several layers of canvas 5, 7 and 14 and the paper sheet 6 are now secured together at their edges by a row of stitching indicated at 16.

It will be observed that the longitudinal channels 12 of the cushion 8 are open at their ends. An inflating tube 17 is inserted between the canvas layers 9 and 11 and has its inner end disposed in one of said channels. The several sheets of canvas and paper are secured together at their edges in the manner above described with the exception of the small portion through which the infiating tube extends. After the cushioning member has been supplied with air by blowing through the tube and said member is inflated sufficiently, the tube is withdrawn or cut off and the opening in the side of the sole closed by gluing the canvas sheets 5 and 14 together.

By providing the several superposed layers of canvas and paper and securing the edges of the sheets 5 and 14 together by means of glue before stitching the same, the sole is rendered air tight so that the air cannot escape from the cushioning member through the canvas fabric.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple pneumatic or air cushion sole for slippers or shoes. 'Ihe same may be either used in the nature of a separate insertible sole for ordinary shoes or the shoe may be manufactured with my improved sole forming a part thereof. Owing to the simple construction of the invention it will bey obvious that the same can be produced at comparatively small cost. It is also of great convenience and serviceability and provides nieans whereby the comfort of the shoe is: materially enhanced.

While I have shown and described the `preferred forni and construction of the invention, it will be obvious that the same is susceptible of considerable modifications in the forni or proportions without departing from the "essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what .is claimed is:

, l. A shoe sole consisting of a plurality of superposed. layers of iexible material, and an air cushion interposed between said layers ofl material and embodying a plurality of air channels, open at both ends.

2. A shoe sole consisting of a plurality of superposed layers of flexible material, and an air cushion centrally arranged between said layers of material, said cushion colnprising a plurality of longitudinal air channels extending substantially the entire length of the shoe sole and open at one of their ends.

Y3. A shoe sole consisting of alternately arranged superposed layers of canvas and paper, the opposite sides of the sole consisting of canvas layers, the canvas layer forining one side of the sole having its edge portion extending beyond the canvas layer Whichforins the other side of said sole, -an

.air .cushion interposed between the Aintermediate canvas and paper sheets and secured thereto, the .canvas (layer having the eX- Vtended edge :portion beingadapted to be .turned over upon the canvas layer forming the other side of the sole and adhesively securedthereto, .stitching'securing thev sev- -eral superposed canvas and paper layers together, and nieans for infiating saidl air cushion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix iny signature inthe presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES S. SVAIM.a Witnesses: i

A. C. BURKHART, i H. C. SCHUL/r.

`Copies oflthis patent may be obtained-for Yfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

--Was'hingtoin D; C. 

